Thursday, December 15, 2011

Peace Paper utilizes traditional hand papermaking as a means of engaging
communities in art practices which bring people together, broadcast
their stories, and transform their fibers into meaningful art pieces.
The project operates everywhere from private workshops to public
demonstrations in order to perpetuate the art of hand papermaking while
adapting to the needs of each specific community. Peace Paper merges its
skill set of papermaking, bookbinding, printmaking, and creative
writing with the unique practices and concepts of host communities as a
way of empowering our collaboration.

The
Torpedo Factory Art Center is honored to present Peace Paper. As a sneak peek to our July 2012 Exhibition, Peace Paper is providing a hands on presentation in the main hall of the Art
Center, where they will talk about their program, and give the audience
a chance to get their hands wet. This event is free and open to the
public.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

During the Alexandria Film Festival, Target
Gallery will be showing 3 short animation films. The three animations
include Pennipotens (18min) directed by Heather Freeman based on a Flemish fairytale, White Caroline, Black Caroline, Mr. Atse’s in pursuit of an ascending career (6min) directed by M. Schendler, and BOT
(4 minutes) directed by Mustafa Lazkani is about a world where all is
good until a wicked 19th century scientist (Dr. Leonardo Van Uitvinding)
brings evil. FREE!

Join the Torpedo Factory
Art Center as we celebrate Fotoweek DC! Target Gallery presents Transferred, a juried exhibition that
highlights artists using alternative processes in photography. Transferred juror and alternative
processes photography expert, Regina
Deluise, will be speaking at a
specialFotoweek DC lecture on
Sunday, November 6 at 7pm with a reception from 6-7pm in the Site 3
Gallery. Immediately following lecture, visit all of the photography
exhibitions throughout the art center. On
November 10, 6-8pm, meet the Transferred artists and take in an alternative
processes demonstration by members of Multiple Exposures Gallery during our
reception.

Friday, September 23, 2011

“How an artist chooses to explore the expression of identity through a
mask, what form that mask takes, and the potential impact of expression on both
the wearer of the mask and the viewer are the parameters that define this
exhibition.” Brittany Yam, juror

Exhibition
dates: October 1-30; reception October
13, 6-8pm with gallery talk at 7pmSpecial Programming: October 6; 6-8pm; Mask making workshop with lecture
and reception

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s
Target Gallery presents “Masks” an
exhibition that explores the roles of masks and the presentation of individual
identity. The exhibition opens on
October 1 and runs through October 30. A reception on October 13 to meet the
artists and the juror will be from 6-8pm with a gallery talk at 7pm. Special
programming includes a free mask making workshop and lecture during Mental
Health Awareness week on October 6, 6-8pm. Art therapist group, Creative
Wellbeing Workshops, will lead this event and it is in partnership with The
Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center and Partnership for a Healthier
Alexandria.

Out of 197 artists who entered “Masks” only 21 artists made the cut. The artists selected are from
across the country including two international artists as well.The work ranges in media from painting,
mixed media, photography, and sculpture. Artists approached the theme in
literal and conceptual ways. A few
of the artists are considering the idea of masks in a socially conscious way,
examples include, local Alexandria artist, Suzanne Vigil’s “Thelma and Louise” a
color pencil drawing, depicting two drag queens and Pennsylvania artist Andrew
Findley’s mixed media piece, “Man’s Best Friend” which depicts a man and his
dog wearing gas masks while out on a casual stroll.Some of the work takes on a mysterious psychological
approach to the theme as can be seen in Kentucky artist, Mare Vacarro’s digital
C print, “Marital Hiss V”, which depicts a female with Alopecia wearing what
appears to be a wedding veil placed against a deep burgundy backdrop.

The juror for this exhibition is Brittany Yam, former
gallery director with Project 4 in Washington DC.In Yam’s juror statement, she explains that her direction
for this exhibition focused primarily on “The relationship between the concept
of a mask and a person’s identity emerged.” She goes on to state, “Depending on
the context of the environment, an individual may choose to highlight or
present certain characteristics as a way to express a connection to a community
or make themselves distinct from a group.” Yam will be present during the
reception on October 13 and will speak at 7pm about her selections and the
direction she chose for the show.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Due to this past weeks crazy weather and natural disasters - earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes oh my! - we know a lot of you are still without power, the deadline for the Día de los Muertos: The Art of Remembrance has been extended until midnight on Friday, September 2nd.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center presents this summer’s 2011 artists in the Visiting Artist Program in an exhibition entitled Synergy. The Visiting Artist Program, the Torpedo Factory Artist Association’s residency program, invites artists both emerging and experienced from around the nation to become a part of its art-making community for a summer. This year’s juror, F. Lennox Campello, international award-winning artist, author of leading art blog Daily Campello Art News, curator, art critic, and writer in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, PA, chose 11 artists for the 2011 summer program. This residency awarded these artists with the opportunity to create in a Torpedo Factory studio from June until August for one, two, or all three months.

Synergy stems from the cohesive objective expressed by the visiting artists to fill their time at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC) with new audience exposure, fresh inspiration from within the TFAC and abroad, and productive studio time that, in totality, amounts to an influential and wholesome experience. Conversely, their synergy translates into quite diverse works that ranges from detritus-based installations to graphite renderings. The exhibition Synergy is centered on this aspect and displays artwork created by each artist during residency and presents interviews conducted at the start of summer on each as well. The exhibited imagery portrays each artist’s perspective and the questionnaire conveys each artist’s anticipations and aspirations for the program in a literary art form. The visiting artists’ unique creativity and individuality permeates through while collectively they comprise this summer’s 2011 Visiting Artist Program.

Join us August 11th from 6-9pm for the opening reception to Synergy held in conjunction with the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s (TFAC) Second Thursday Art Night. Come visit Site 2 and 3 Galleries on the second and third floors of the art center and view synergized art, read insightful interviews, and talk to the visiting artists!

Gallery InformationThe exhibition will be held in the Site 2 and Site 3 Galleries. These exhibition spaces, managed by Target Gallery, are the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s outreach exhibition sites. Target Gallery, national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory, promotes high standards of art by continuously exploring new ideas through the visual media in a schedule of national and international exhibitions.We are located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, VA.The gallery is open daily from 10-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays. Visit our website to learn more about the Visiting Artist Program at www.torpedofactory.org/vap/.

The Target Gallery will present this year’s Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s (Friends) Artist of the Year, Tory Cowles, with a solo exhibition in the gallery. The exhibition, which runs from July 2 – August 14, will have a special reception and awards ceremony to celebrate the artist on July 14 from 6-8pm. At 7pm, the Friends will present the artist with a $1000 award for being selected as this year’s artist of the year.Juror, Harry Cooper will say a few words during the ceremony about his selection. All events are free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

An abstract painter, Ms. Cowles’ background was in three-dimensional work such as stonewall building, woodworking, interior design, architecture, and carpentry, and her paintings were representational landscapes and portraits. When she started painting abstracts, she was able to incorporate the challenges and appeal of her previous 3D work onto the 2D canvas.

For her exhibit, Ms. Cowles will present a series of abstract paintings as large as 60” by 72” and diptychs, which are 48” by 120”.These sizes excite her because they encourage looseness and make a huge impact.A recurring theme in Cowles’ work is strong bright colors, which give energy and joy tempered by serious darks and subdued grays. Complex movement draws the eye throughout and around the painting as tension is created between spontaneity and discipline.Tory incorporates boldness and subtlety within the painting while allowing each quality to hold its own.

Cowles’ paintings combine stream of consciousness, abstract expressionism, and disciplined critical analysis.She paints from the heart and hopes that viewers are moved to respond from the heart.

Juror: Harry Cooper, Curator and Head of Modern and Contemporary Art National Gallery of Art, Washington

Mr. Cooper, curator of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, is the organizing curator of The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection: Selected Works.

Since joining the Gallery in February 2008, he has organized The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection: Selected Works and initiated a series of focus exhibitions in the Tower Gallery of the East Building on such artists as Philip Guston, Mark Rothko, and Nam June Paik.

Cooper received a PhD in 1997 from Harvard University, an MA in 1992 from Johns Hopkins University, and an AB in American history and literature in 1981 from Harvard University. Cooper also holds a certificate in drawing and painting from the Corcoran Museum School of Art, Washington, DC.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Target Gallery is excited to be working with Karen Reedy Dance (KRD) again for another dance/exhibition collaboration!

In response to our "In the Flesh 3" exhibit KRD will perform at 8pm on June 9, immediately following the Target Gallery reception.

Karen Reedy Dance will explore the physical body and highlight the human condition through a rich movement language of gesture and raw physicality, inspired by the exhibition.

Karen Reedy Dance (KRD) embodies the creative spirit and elegant grace that make dance a transformative art form. KRD is an Alexandria based professional contemporary dance company devoted to nurturing artists through the exploration of new work and collaboration with other art forms, in both traditional live performance and site-specific venues. In looking towards the evolution of performance, this company aims to create an environment to celebrate, nurture and promote the artistic field of dance.

This site-specific performance in conjunction with the Target Gallery exhibition, In the Flesh3, marks the fourth collaboration between KRD and the Torpedo Factory and the third collaboration between KRD and the Target Gallery. This intimate new work explores the physical body and highlights the human condition through a rich movement language of gesture and raw physicality, inspired by the visual work in the exhibition.

In July, 2010, KRD performed a work created for Art in Balance: Rhythm and Repetition, presented by the Target Gallery. For the Pink Line Project, Kate Mattingly wrote, "One of the most memorable events I saw in 2010 was a site-specific collaborative performance at the Torpedo Factory in July that brought together visual artists (Alison Sigethy and Marsha Staiger), a choreographer (Karen Reedy) and a composer (Jeff Franca) with dancers, a kayaker (Sigethy) and an audience that drew a path from the dock to the galleries. It was magical, creative, and on an otherwise overcast day, brought a glimpse of light and beauty."

This one-evening only performance is not to be missed!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

In the Flesh 3 returns after popular demand; this is an exhibition that examines contemporary figurative art. An all media exhibit that invites artists nationally and internationally to submit work for consideration that includes the human figure as its subject. Our juror for this exhibit is Dr. Jamie Smith curator and partner of Conner Contemporary in Washington DC and Co-Director of (e)merge Art Fair. In Dr. Smith’s statement, the 21 artists selected for this exhibition enhance our understanding of the vulnerabilities, dilemmas and strengths of the flesh by reflecting our humanity in their art.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Nest Project has received funding from Kickstarter! We will now be able to move forward with the outside nest installations! The money earned is going to pay each art group participating a small stipend to cover their expenses, solar spotlights, signage, maps, and donation to Habitat for Humanity.

This would not be possible if it wasn't for the 75 most AWESOME BACKERS EVER that donated to this project through Kickstarter. THANK YOU!!

Schedule of weekend events include:

All weekend:Community Nest Installation benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia invites the public to answer the question: What does home mean to you? Write your answer on the provided strips of paper for $1 (all proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of NoVA) and then weave into the large nest form.

Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10:Outside Nest InstallationsBeginning outside on the docks, 12 DC area art groups will create their "Nest" installations.

Kids are invited to be a part of the “Nest Project” by building their own nest using found materials at this FREE kids nest building project on the docks right outside the Torpedo Factory. This activity is being led by Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. All materials will be provided, kids just need to come and play!

Monday, February 21, 2011

March Madness Art PartyDates: March 25, 7-11pmWhere: Main hall of Torpedo Factory Art Center, right outside of the Target GalleryCost: $15 in advance; $20 at the door

The theme of the evening will have a NCAA March Madness Tournament pub like atmosphere, to include games, pub faire,music, prizes and more! The money raised from this event and exhibition will benefit the March of Dimes & the Target Gallery's 2011 outreach programming.

This ticket not only gets you entrance to the party & 1 drink ticket, but also all of the below party festivities:

*Artwork - 200 pieces of artwork on 10" square panels – each only $100*Prizes - many of the panels will be loaded with prizes donated from local businesses*Food & Drinks – wings, pizza, beer & more, provided by local businesses*Beer - sposored by Old Dominion Brewing Company*Games – join in the fun with a little fun competition!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011

Immigration is a tough issue in America. There is no one solution because there is no one problem. Immigration hurts and it helps. The author of "Ask a Mexican!," Gustabo Arellano, said it best: "The immigrants of the past are the Americans of today." So begs the question: without immigrants, is there an America? (excerpt from the Paisano Review of Beyond Borders, "The Great Migration," by Taylor Reynolds, 4/22/08, Sect. Entertainment)

Target Gallery presents the film "Beyond Borders: The Debate Over Human Migration" as part of its special programming schedule for the exhibition "Mixing Bowl: Immigration and Diversity in America."

The gallery is excited to have the Executive Producer, Simon Burrow, fly in from California to lead a panel discussion about immigration immediately following the screening of the film. Below is a brief synopsis of the film and a link to the website to view the trailer. http://www.beyondbordersfilm.com

The film will be shown on Friday, February 4 beginning at 7PM at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

SHORT SYNOPSIS

Beyond Borders moves past the headlines and takes an in-depth look at the hot-button issues of legal and illegal immigration.

Beyond Borders explores the psychological forces driving the immigration controversy from both sides of the debate. Anti-immigration activists demand we stop this "illegal alien invasion,” while some pro-immigration forces speak of a Reconquista, a reclaiming of the American Southwest by Mexico. In search of a middle ground, Beyond Borders travels across the U.S. and beyond to give voices to those on the front-line of this issue, including candid interviews with Border Patrol agents, radio celebrities, demographers, the Minute Men, potential migrants, and a host of experts including Noam Chomsky (Distorted Morality) and Gustavo Arellano (Ask A Mexican). Beyond Borders is an entertaining and enlightening film that asks: Is migration a basic human right?

Simon Burrow: Simon, the producer of the documentary film, Beyond Borders is himself an immigrants' success story. Twenty-two years after founding an industrial manufacturing company, Brandon International, he sold his firm and decided to devote his life to the basic human right to migrate. He came to the United States from England in 1957, he strongly believes in democracy, free markets and individual freedom. He feels it is wrong to restrict immigration. After moving to California, where he began his career as a "hippie carpenter," he was offered a job running a plastic bucket factory. He eventually founded Coventry, an industrial manufacturing company which numbered 250 employees with factories in Mexico and China.

Simon's motivation for the film is to make the world a fairer place, believing that "Immigration is the next big human right." His organization, Radical Immigration believes that it is morally wrong to restrict where people live and that getting to a world where people can move without restrictions will take time, education and experience. Simon believes that the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" does not have a geographic caveat attached to it.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from California State University, Los Angeles. He serves as a teacher and guest lecturer in business and ideals at Cal Poly, Whittier College, University of Southern California, Mount SAC and his alma mater, CSULA.

The Target Gallery is the national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory Art Center. The Target Gallery promotes high standards of art by continuously exploring new ideas through the visual media in a schedule of national and international exhibitions. The gallery hosts nine exhibits annually--some juried, some curated--featuring a variety of themes and artists. In an effort to keep our perspective challenged, our exhibits are usually composed of artists outside of the Torpedo Factory and represent artistic views from across the nation and around the world.